Blog
Full Picture, Full Power: The Role of Context in Health Literacy
Understanding female anatomy shouldn’t be a mystery—but for many people, it still is. As a medical illustrator, I’ve seen how much confusion and discomfort exists around the vulva, vagina, and uterus—often because diagrams are incomplete, censored, or overly clinical. At a recent reproductive justice art show, I was reminded just how powerful a full, clear…
Read MoreCan you hold your flatulence? The Importance of the Pelvic Floor
What I learned from a pelvic floor therapist about the importance of taking good care of our pelvic floor. I recently had the opportunity to meet Brittney Davis, a pelvic floor specialist at Rock Valley Physical Therapy here in North Liberty, Iowa. Our initial meeting stemmed from a maternity project I recently completed. I quickly…
Read MoreGoing to a Museum? Bring a Sketchbook!
My favorite museum activities as an illustrator and why I can easily spend an entire day exploring even the smallest natural history museum. Recently, my husband and I went on a museum tour. We hopped on a bus with other members of the Cedar Valley Rocks and Minerals Society and went to the University of…
Read MoreDid You Wash Your Hands?
Everyone has written an article about how to wash your hands and why it’s crucial. We don’t have anything to add. At LEGACY BioStudios, LLC, we hope you and yours stay healthy, and we have a gift for you: Here is a free poster for you to download (regular letter-sized) and hang up at your…
Read MoreHow Illustration Found Me: How I Founded LEGACY BioStudios, LLC
When I introduce myself, people often ask, “How did you end up in this line of work?” My story is long, but I think it brings to light why I love the work I do so much and how LEGACY BioStudios, LLC came to be. I grew up in my family’s dental clinic, and it…
Read More#Inclusion
Why Diversity and Inclusivity Matters in Medical Illustration I was in the 2nd grade, and a friend told me my gums were dirty. My mom is a dentist and was asked to come to my 2nd-grade class to do a lesson on oral hygiene and the importance of preventative health care. Mostly a “don’t be…
Read MoreWomen’s History Month – Remembering Mary Anning
We are at the end of March which is Women’s History Month, but also the month that has International Women’s Day and National Puppy Day. Both of these days and Women’s History Month were my theme of work and reading. At the end of February on a very long drive up to Minnesota, I listened…
Read MoreNew Year, New Gear!
I have recently made the move from 3D modeling to 3D animation, and with that, I needed a little bit more power to back my rendering. I previously had a dual-core processor with 6 GB of RAM, which was great for rendering still images, but was horrendous for rendering animations. After doing an eye-bleeding amount…
Read MoreI Need Illustrations, Where Do I start?
When I start on a new project, the first thing I like to ask is, “why are you making this?” When I start talking with a client about what kind of illustrations would work best for their goals, I find that when you ask “why” you get insight into more of the project beyond, “here…
Read MoreHolidays with the Family: What I learned from a three-year-old
Happy New Year Everyone! So, I spent the holiday with my sister and her family and one of the best things about that, is I get to spend time with my nephew who is three. This time is particularly fun for me because he is a curious little guy and I get to share with…
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